5 Best IT Project Management Software

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We have compiled the ultimate guide for IT project management tools, exploring the top project management systems available in the market this year.

Need to find a solution today? Here are our recommendations for the best project management software options tailored to IT professionals. These unbiased picks are sourced from project-management.com and backed by our team’s extensive research and practical expertise.

Our PicksBest ForPricing Starts At

Jira logo.

Visit Jira Service Management

Best for Agile Teams

Free to try • $21 /user/month

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Trello logo.

Visit Trello

Best for Cross-Platform Support

Free to try • $5/user/month

Read more details

gitlab logo.

Visit Gitlab

Best for Managing Code Collaboratively

Free to try • $29/user/month

Read more details



Visit Bigtime

Best for IT Consulting

$20/user/month

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workzone logo.
Visit Workzone

Best for Ease of Use
$24/user/month

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Our Picks

The logo of Jira.

Jira Service Management: Best for Agile Teams

Jira Service Management is a powerful solution that greatly appeals to IT project management professionals, especially for agile teams in search of streamlined and efficient processes. Rooted in the renowned Jira platform, it provides a range of features specifically designed to meet the distinctive requirements of IT projects.


Read our review of Jira Service Management


Jira Service Management is classified as an ITSM solution as it unites IT with developers, admins, and business teams to foster the creation and delivery of top-notch service experiences. From agile project management capabilities to robust issue tracking, seamless collaboration, customizable workflows, and integration options, Jira Service Management provides a versatile toolkit to enhance efficiency and success in IT project endeavors.

Jira Service Management Screenshot.

Pros & Cons

Jira Service Management ProsJira Service Management Cons
• Agile workflows
• ITIL alignment
• Comprehensive and robust tool
• Robust issue tracking
• Scalability
• Character limits on requests
• Complex configuration and customization
• Cluttered interface

Why We Chose Jira Service Management

Jira Service Management is a part of the familiar and widely used Atlassian suite of products. With its robust features, customizable workflows, and strong agile capabilities, Jira Service Management empowers agile teams to efficiently manage IT projects with a focus on collaboration, automation, and integration, cementing streamlined processes, effective communication, and seamless coordination among team members. 

Trello logo.

Trello: Best for Cross-Platform Support

Trello is a project management software solution designed to enhance IT project workflows visually. With its intuitive interface and kanban boards, IT teams can efficiently organize tasks, collaborate in real-time, and monitor ongoing progress. Trello’s customizable cards, integrations, and user-friendly approach make it an excellent choice for IT project management, allowing for improved coordination, communication, and productivity across projects. 


Read our review of Trello


Trello’s cross-platform support ensures accessibility and functionality across various devices and operating systems, making it an ideal choice for IT teams seeking improved coordination, communication, and productivity.

The system’s real-time collaboration capabilities encourage and enrich teamwork, enabling seamless communication via comments and attachments, thereby elevating efficiency and fostering instant interaction. The tool’s proficiency in cross-platform support enables seamless integration with external tools, creating a cohesive and productive workflow that excels by streamlining processes and minimizing the need for software transitions.

Trello Platforms

Pros & Cons

Trello ProsTrello Cons
• Customizable workflows
• Manage incoming IT requests
• Integrations with other services
• Low cost options
• Limited customization options
• Limited features for larger projects

Why We Chose Trello

IT professionals should consider Trello as an option for managing their IT workflows and projects. Leveraging Trello for IT projects brings forth advantages like enhanced workflow efficiency, adaptable workflows, streamlined management of incoming IT requests, budget-friendly options, and seamless integrations with other services. Moreover, Trello’s standout feature is its comprehensive cross-platform support, featuring dedicated applications for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Web. This ensures that your projects are accessible from any location and on any device.

gitlab logo.

GitLab: Best For Managing Code Collaboratively

GitLab offers a comprehensive DevOps platform tailored for IT project management of the software development lifecycle, with a notable focus on collaborative code management across teams. In addition to its robust version control capabilities, GitLab seamlessly incorporates project management features, providing IT teams the tools to plan, monitor, and collaborate with precision.


Read about GitLab and other top tools for the software development lifecycle


GitLab facilitates lean and Agile project management, spanning from fundamental issue tracking to Scrum and Kanban-style project management. Whether your focus is on monitoring a few issues or overseeing the entire DevSecOps life cycle within a team of developers, GitLab provides comprehensive support for your team’s needs. Featuring integrated CI/CD pipelines, issue tracking, and powerful collaboration tools, GitLab optimizes development workflows and promotes seamless IT teamwork.

GitLab Code Review screen.

Pros & Cons

GitLab ProsGitLab Cons
• Issue tracking
• Code review
• Supports Lean, Agile, Scrum, and Kanban project management
• Customizable workflows
• Cross-platform support
• Non-intuitive interface
• Performance issues when dealing with big workloads or repositories

Why We Chose GitLab

IT professionals should strongly contemplate adopting GitLab to meet their IT project management requirements, as it offers a strong capacity to facilitate collaborative code management among teams. Through its incorporation of integrated CI/CD pipelines, issue tracking, and potent collaboration tools, GitLab optimizes development workflows and bolsters teamwork efficacy. This solid option provides a consolidated platform that encompasses code management, task monitoring, and collaborative efforts, solidifying its standing as an outstanding selection for IT projects spanning various sizes and complexities.

BigTime: Best Comprehensive Project Management Solution

BigTime is a cloud-based project management platform designed to address the unique requirements of professional services companies. It optimizes business operations through enhanced efficiency in workflow management, resource allocation, billing, project planning, and monitoring. 

With fully customizable features, BigTime offers an all-in-one solution that facilitates time and expense tracking both online and offline, along with work-in-progress (WIP) management, task and workflow organization, and comprehensive data collection for client billing. Integrated features encompass time and expense tracking, WIP management, task and workflow organization, invoicing, billing, and more. Moreover, BigTime seamlessly integrates with popular productivity apps like Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox.

BigTime Screenshot

Pros & Cons

BigTime ProsBigTime Cons
• All-in-one solution
• Solid customer support
• Dependable smart time tracking
• Customizable workflows
• Learning curve
• Limited integrations

Why We Chose BigTime

For IT professionals seeking effective project management solutions, BigTime stands out as an ideal choice due to its integrated and versatile features. As an all-in-one platform, it offers a comprehensive suite of tools for managing IT projects efficiently. Tailored to cater to the distinctive needs of professional services companies, BigTime provides fully customizable features that can be tailored to the specific demands of IT projects. From time and expense tracking to WIP management, task and workflow organization, invoicing, billing, and beyond, BigTime’s integrated solution caters to various aspects of IT project management.

workzone logo.

Workzone: Best For Ease of Use

Workzone is a project management platform that offers a range of features designed to streamline project planning, task management, collaboration, and progress tracking. It is user-friendly and holds significant appeal for IT project management needs.

A comprehensive set of features including customizable workflows and intuitive interface, Workzone provides IT teams with the tools they need to efficiently manage projects and tasks. Workzone’s focus on simplicity without compromising functionality makes it a valuable asset for IT professionals aiming to streamline their project management processes effectively.

Workzone screenshot

Pros & Cons

Workzone ProsWorkzone Cons
• User-friendly interface
• Customizable workflows
• Progress tracking
• Resource allocation
• Low cost options
• Few integrations
• Complexity for smaller projects

Why We Chose Workzone

IT professionals would find Workzone to be a compelling choice for addressing their IT project management requirements. Workzone’s user-friendly platform streamlines project organization and fosters collaboration effectively. Its intuitive interface and accessible features empower IT teams to efficiently handle tasks, monitor progress, and facilitate smooth communication.

Bottom Line: The Best Overall Pick

In the evaluation of IT project management options, each solution presents distinct advantages. For Agile teams prioritizing streamlined workflows, Jira Service Management emerges as a standout selection, optimized for Agile methodologies. Trello leads with its exceptional cross-platform support, ensuring accessibility across diverse devices and operating systems. GitLab distinguishes itself through superior collaborative code management, ideal for projects with intensive coding requirements. BigTime caters comprehensively to IT consulting needs, tailored to the specific demands of professional services companies. Lastly, Workzone excels with its user-friendly interface, positioning it as the top choice for IT professionals seeking efficient project management with ease.

After thorough review of features and deep-diving on what users are saying, Jira Service Management is our favorite pick for IT project management because it offers a range of features for service request, incident, problem, and change management and also integrates seamlessly with Jira, enabling IT and development teams to work together more efficiently.  It is also an ITSM solution that ties together IT, developkent, administrators, and other nbusiness teams to manage the creation and delivery of top-notch service experiences to customers.

Methodology

With a wealth of experience as an IT project management consultant within diverse organizational contexts, my insights are shaped by a careful evaluation of notable project management tools, informed by hands-on engagement. My assessment methodology involves a thorough analysis of various factors, incorporating established and emerging solutions, software functionalities, user appraisals, interviews with IT professionals using software, and industry feedback.

This guide focused on choosing the ideal project management software for IT environments. I meticulously reviewed an array of tools and carefully curated a selection of the foremost candidates, guided by the following criteria:

  1. Seamless Integration: Ensure the software integrates smoothly with your existing IT tools, including version control, issue tracking, and communication platforms, to enhance workflow consistency.
  1. Customizable Workflows: Seek software that allows you to tailor workflows to align with your IT project processes, accommodating the unique stages and approvals required in IT projects.
  1. Security and Compliance: Give priority to software with robust security features and compliance standards that adhere to IT industry regulations, safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining industry standards.
  1. Effective Resource Management: Opt for software that facilitates efficient allocation and management of IT resources, assisting in the optimal distribution of staff, equipment, and expertise for project success.
  2. Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Choose a solution with comprehensive reporting and analytics functionalities designed for IT projects, offering insights into project progress, performance, bottlenecks, and potential risks.

In alignment with these benchmarks, the software solutions recommended in our list exemplify premier choices for IT project management solutions, addressing the unique needs of diverse IT teams. These selections earned top-of-the-list status due to their exceptional endorsements from users and experts, essential project management functionalities tailored for IT, customizable features, and the added benefit of a complimentary trial offering.

FAQs: Features, Benefits, and Questions to Ask

IT project management includes the planning, executing, monitoring, and controlling of projects within the information technology (IT) domain. This discipline entails supervising the realization of IT projects, which can include tasks like software development, system upgrades, network installations, and infrastructure improvements. IT project managers coordinate teams, resources, timelines, and budgets to ensure that IT projects are delivered successfully and meet the specified goals and requirements.

IT project management is a specialized branch within project management that focuses specifically on overseeing projects within the information technology (IT) field. General project management is a broader discipline spread across various industries and team roles. While both share fundamental principles of planning, execution, monitoring, and control, there are distinct differences specific to IT project management, including domain focus, technical expertise, specific tools and methodologies, unique risks, regulatory compliance and more technical teams including developers, network engineers, and system administrators.

Key features of IT project management software encompass:

Task and Project Tracking: Allowing the initiation, assignment, and monitoring of tasks and projects, aiding in efficient workload management, adherence to deadlines, and tracking of progress.

Resource Management: Enabling the allocation and supervision of IT resources, encompassing personnel, equipment, and budget, to ensure efficient resource utilization across projects.

Gantt Charts and Timelines: Presenting visual project timelines, dependencies, and milestones, enhancing project planning and scheduling through clear graphical representations.

Collaboration Tools: Providing a suite of features for seamless team communication, real-time file sharing, and collaborative work, fostering efficient teamwork and information exchange.

Risk Management: Aiding in the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of risks associated with IT projects, allowing teams to proactively tackle potential challenges.

Budget and Cost Tracking: Facilitating the monitoring of project budgets, expenditures, and financial forecasts, guaranteeing adherence to allocated funds for projects.

Integration with IT Tools: Effortlessly incorporating IT tools such as version control, issue tracking, and development platforms, enhancing the efficiency of workflow processes.

Reporting and Analytics: Providing extensive reporting and analytics concerning project performance, enabling data-driven decision-making and evaluation of performance.

In addition, IT Service Management (ITSM) centers on managing IT services and supporting the overall IT ecosystem. ITSM software encompasses additional features such as incident management, problem resolution, change management, service requests handling, and asset management. 

While both address IT needs, the distinctions between IT project management software and ITSM software are notable. IT project management software accentuates the planning, execution, and monitoring of IT projects, while ITSM software focuses on adeptly delivering and managing IT services to meet user demands and sustain the IT infrastructure.

The key benefits of IT project management software should include some or all of the following:

Streamlined Project Execution: IT project management software optimizes the planning, execution, and monitoring of IT projects, ensuring timely and budget-conscious completion.

Resource Allocation Efficiency: The software allocates IT resources, matching tasks with skilled personnel to enhance productivity.

Effective Communication: Features include collaborative functionalities that foster clear communication among team members, stakeholders, and clients, promoting alignment.

Proactive Risk Management: The software enables teams to identify and handle project risks, addressing potential challenges and minimizing disruptions.

Real-time Progress Tracking: Through tools like Gantt charts and timelines, IT project management software gives the ability to view the current work landscape, what lies ahead, and what might be delayed.

Informed Decision-making: Robust reporting and analytics capabilities give insight into project performance, so project managers can make data-driven decisions.

Comprehensive Documentation: IT PM tools provide detailed documentation of tasks, milestones, and outcomes, aiding post-project analysis and knowledge retention.

Adaptability and Flexibility: The software accommodates adjustments to project plans and timelines, ensuring responsiveness to evolving project demands.

Regulatory Compliance Support: Certain tools offer features to align with IT industry regulations and compliance standards, ensuring data security and legal requirements are met.

Centralized Information Hub: IT software centralizes project-related information, minimizing miscommunication and ensuring easy access to crucial data.

Optimized Workflows: Customizable workflows tailored to IT processes drive operational efficiency and consistency across all IT projects.

  1. Does the software have security measures and compliance standards that align with IT industry regulations? Security features should protect sensitive IT data and support compliance requirements.
  2. Beyond initial licensing fees, what are the additional costs for implementation, training, and ongoing support? Understanding the total cost of ownership helps plan the budget for implementing and maintaining the software.
  3. Can the software accommodate our IT organization’s growth in terms of project complexity and team expansion? The software should be scalable to meet changing demands and increasing project sizes.
  4. Can the software adapt to our organization’s specific project management methodologies and workflows? The software should offer customizable workflows to match your IT processes and project stages.

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